University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
Rice (C-USA Semifinals)
Tennis Gets Bounced by Rice in C-USA Semifinals
4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 22, 2006
GARLAND - The University of Houston tennis team took the doubles point but lost a 4-1 decision to Rice in the Conference USA semifinals Saturday afternoon at the Garland Tennis Center.
"We started the match by playing a strong doubles point, and things were looking good on our end" head coach John Severance said. "Unfortunately, we were a doubles team and not a singles team today."
The Cougars (20-5) concluded the season with its fourth consecutive C-USA Semifinal appearance. Houston also improved on its win total from a season ago and posted its first 20-win season since the 1989-90 campaign.
Houston took the doubles battling back from an early deficit. Rice's top pair of Blair DiSesa and Medeja Egic knocked off Loli Gomez and Brianna Bateup 8-2.
The Cougars battled back Sonja Nikolic and Sarah Reimer knotted the teams with a 8-4 win at the bottom of the lineup.
Once again Houston relied on the senior pair of Kami Miller and Yolandi Terblanche to break the tie and the duo didn't disappoint for the Red and White emerging with a hard-fought 8-6 win. Miller and Terblanche finished the season the spring season with a 15-1 mark.
"Our seniors (Miller, Terblanche and Reimer) have been an instrumental part in developing this team," Severance said. "Last season we took a step forward and this year we took a bigger step forward to getting this program to where it needs to be on a year in and year out basis."
Rice (12-12) charged back in singles action winning four straight set decisions. The Owls, who faced 13 ranked opponents in 2006, including 11 ranked in the top 50 and six in the top 20 dropped only 11 games in singles action.
Unlike in previous seasons, there will not be a consolation match for third place. The Owls will match up with top-seeded SMU Sunday morning at 10am.
"Teams like SMU, Rice and Tulsa have shown the depth that realignment has given our conference," Severance said. "Three of the four teams in semifinals are new teams to the league. That's very encouraging for the future of Conference USA as a strong tennis conference."
C-USA Semifinals
No. 7 Rice 4, No. 3 Houston 1
Doubles
No. 1 - DiSesa/Egic (Rice) def. Bateup/Gomez (Hou) (8-2)
No. 2 - Miller/Terblanche (Hou) def. Patenaude/Rodgers (Rice) (8-6)
No. 3 - Reimer/Nikolic (Hou) def. Lee/Dao (Rice) (8-4)
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
No. 1 - DiSesa (Rice) vs. Bateup (Hou) (DNF)
No. 2 - Dao (Rice) def. Gomez (Hou) (6-2, 6-2)
No. 3 - Lee (Rice) def. Nikolic (Hou) (6-2, 6-2)
No. 4 - Egic (Rice) def. Miller (Hou) (6-0, 6-1)
No. 5 - Rodgers (Rice) def. Simpson (Hou) (6-1, 6-1)
No. 6 - Braid (Rice) vs. Terblanche (Hou) (DNF)
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2, 3
